Hofner Beatle Bass
This old Hofner bass had led an interesting life. There were many repairs and modifications made to it over the years. Most notable was defretting it and veneering over the fretboard to render it fretless. The owner wanted it restored to how it was way back when. Click on the images to experience this colorful story step-by-step!
01
Ye olde headstock
This headplate is pretty chewed-up and will be replaced.
02
Faux Fretless
Somebody pulled the frets out and veneered over the board for that smooth gliding action.
03
Undoing the veneer
Let's get rid of that ill-advised veneer.
04
Chunks Missing!
There were many layers of things missing, replaced, rehashed, and reconstituted on this bass.
05
Beatle Bass Shrapnel
Here the candy-coated shell has been stripped off and lies in shards.
06
Strippin'
Getting the neck ready for refinishing
07
New burst
Look at that sexy sunburst.
08
Color going on
Rowr.
09
Burst with topcoats
Here we have both color and topcoat in place
10
New headplate
Here we glue the new headplate on with a couple of clamps.
11
New headplate and board
With the new headplate, new fretboard & binding, frets and some finish, things are beginning to look normal again.
12
Finished Neck Reset
Here the neck is back on and everything's ready to pop/rock again.
13
Completed headstock
Look at that gloss black headstock, just like nothing ever happened.
14
Completed headstock back
Here's the back of the headstock, in all its pale sunbursted glory.
15
New nut
Being a Hofner means never having to apologize for your three-ply nut.
16
Complete bass
Here's the whole finished product. All the years of mods, repairs, and dubious decisions stripped away and restored to as-original.
Next step
Yours could be next on the bench.
Drop off at Elston Avenue Monday through Saturday, noon to 6pm. No appointment needed. Or send photos for an estimate first.